Saturday 30 April 2016

Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.” (Single Review)




Florida Georgia Line "H.O.L.Y."  (Single Review)
Release Date: 29 April 2016
Label: Big Machine Label Group, LLC
Time: 3:16 minutes


Available on Amazon UK | UK iTunes  

FGL open a new chapter showing a softer side on H.O.L.Y.

The self-appointed bro-country multi award winning duo Florida Georgia Line (Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley) return but this time with something a whole lot more meaningful.
They display a fresh maturity which should reach out to, and be embraced by a wide age demographic given its universal appeal.
In terms of quality this could well be their best effort yet and certainly their most noteworthy since the mid-tempo Billboard #1 ballad "Dirt" dropped on July 8, 2014.
H.O.L.Y. (writers Nate Cyphert, William Larsen and busbee) opens with a gentle acoustic guitar and piano underscored with a soft back beat.
It finds Tyler Hubbard’s role depicting a desperately lonely, thoughtful and reflective mood. As winter sets in clinging onto threads of hope, he sings:
I couldn't find a day I didn't feel alone, I never meant to cry, started losing hope...

As the rain clouds disperse and love is found, a new biblical-like chapter is opened as Brian Kelley joins in on the chorus lines:
You're holy, holy, holy, holy, I'm high on loving you, high on loving you

Although the pair didn't write the worship-like tune they obviously became emotionally attached to the song. They show a deep respect, honour and gratitude towards their wife's who they've desired for so long to marry and to raise their future offspring.

You made the brightest days from the darkest nights
You're the river bank where I was baptized
Cleanse all the demons
That were killing my freedom
Let me lay you down, give me to ya
Get you singing babe, hallelujah
We'll be touching, we'll be touching heaven

The number with its overtly spiritual vibe is thankfully uncluttered production wise. It allows Hubbard’s vocals the space to shine and soar as he digs deep to evoke the necessary emotion and passion without crossing the line for it be considered too syrupy, thus delivering a sweet yet honest sentiment:
You're an angel, tell me you're never leaving, Cos you're the first thing I know I can believe in

Lyrically, Hubbard trades both personal experiences and metaphors on “H.O.L.Y.” like a sweet love letter to his significant other with the words: 
I don't need the stars cos you shine for me, Like fire in my veins, you're my ecstasy (You're my ecstasy)

Later in the track a faint organ and steel drift over the background harmony.
As the love song gently fades and with healing hands soothing the hurt FGL are it seems Forever Grateful Lovers!

With summer on the country horizon this will be another welcome addition to what is becoming an already ballad laden Billboard chart!
The genre it seems, in this currently crazy world, feels there's a need for positivity, hope and to spread genuine love.
In fact, FGL have another song waiting in the angels’ wings called "Music Is Healing" on their forthcoming third studio album named DIG YOUR ROOTS.
Joey Moi has returned to produce the record, and Tim McGraw is slated to make an appearance on one song.

Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard got their start playing guitar and singing in church both separately and together (worship leaders) and return to that vibe on “H.O.L.Y.” 
"God's been good to us and on our side and I think this one's going to shine big" said Kelley.
Don't be surprised to see this gently "cruise" to the top of the charts.

Review ends

Video & Background to H.O.L.Y

Strangely enough Florida Georgia Line admit when they first heard “H.O.L.Y.” they were not impressed, but its hook and the message finally stuck with Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley and they grew to like it a lot.
The ACM Vocal Duo of the Year winners were halfway through recording their Dig Your Roots album when they heard “H.O.L.Y.”
Hubbard said they listened to about half of it and decided the song didn’t suit them.

A couple weeks later, we just were both kinda like, ‘Have you been listening to that ‘H.O.L.Y.,’ that song?'” Hubbard recalled, according to ABC Radio.
We both kind of fell in love with it over those few weeks of living with it, you know, and realized the power. Sometimes a song doesn’t hit you right away, you know,” he explained. “Sometimes it takes a few seconds to
actually get deep enough into the song to realize the power of that song.”

To coincide with the single a music video for “H.O.L.Y.” has been released. It was shot in Australia at the Twelve Apostles, a popular tourist attraction, a series of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, 94 kilometers from Melbourne. 

















The apostles were formed by erosion: the harsh and extreme weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 50 metres high. 




















There were actually only 9 from before until one of them tumbled down on July 4th, 2005 and they become 8 now. Hubbard joked that Kelley (with beard growth) looks like the 13th apostle in the video or should that be nine!
Watch the >> official video first published on April 28, 2016 - Vevo


The scenery is so dramatic and it felt like a spiritual place for Hubbard and Kelley. 
The director TK McKamy explained in the background to video (below) that it was once a volcanic site that last erupted 25,000 years ago. Watch on Vevo


Given the nature of “H.O.L.Y.” it seems fitting that both the FGL wifes appear in the video.
CMA Awards 2015- red carpet Team FGL and wifes
Brittney Marie Cole (L) & Hayley Stommel (R) (4 Nov 2015 Getty Images)
  
Brian Kelley's wedding to Brittany Marie Cole (a psychology student at the University of Georgia | Instagram Page), who rocked Boho chic, took place back on Dec 16, 2013 at his home in Nashville. The couples nontraditional wedding day was a relaxed and casual country singer persona affair. Just 40 guests attended the intimate wedding and the couple got coordinating feather tattoos on their arms afterwards and they're currently on their honeymoon in French Polynesia.


Instagram Image at Twelve Apostles Brian Kelley & Brittany Cole (Bcole recently celebrated her birthday)
A photo posted by Brian Kelley (@playbkplay) on

Tyler Hubbard known as a hard-rocking, harder-partying country star, but as was evidence from his July 1, 2015 wedding to longtime girlfriend Hayley Stommel that he also showed off his sensitive side.
Tyler Hubbard with his lovely wife Hayley Stommel





























"I was a basket-case to be honest," Hubbard told PEOPLE exclusively of first seeing his bride walk down the aisle. "I was super emotional. It was a very spiritual moment the first time I got to see her. It was beautiful."

Equally beautiful was the wedding's postcard-perfect setting in the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho, where Stommel (then aged 28), an Idaho native, grew up skiing.

Related Article: Florida Georgia Line Says They'll Have Kids in 2-5 Years
A photo posted by Tyler Hubbard (@thubbmusic) on



About Florida Georgia Line - CMT Bio
Dig Your Roots US Tour Dates

CONNECT with Florida Georgia Line:
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Eric Church's video for “Record Year” premieres

ERIC CHURCH'S VIDEO FOR “RECORD YEAR” PREMIERES TODAY

Church’s Striking Gibson Hummingbird Dark Signature Acoustic Guitar Unveiled in Video; Available at Authorized Gibson Dealers in May

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Friday, April 29, 2016) – On the heels of winning ACM Video of the Year Award for “Mr. Misunderstood” earlier this month, Eric Church has premiered his new music video for current single, “Record Year,” on Vevo earlier today with a broadcast debut on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown this Saturday, April 30. 

The music video again enlists directors John Peets and Reid Long and features teenager McKinley James who starred in the music video for “Mr. Misunderstood” and appears on the cover art of Church’s highly acclaimed album by the same name.  

Also making an appearance in the 3:09 video is Church’s new uniquely designed and distinctively customized signature edition of the world famous Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar, aptly termed by Church as Hummingbird Dark

Church –who joins artists such as Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, and Pete Townshend who have also constructed their own signature guitars – is seen playing the model throughout the video shot in an abandoned schoolhouse on the outskirts of Nashville, Tenn.
Watch in best quality on Vevo or here:
 “...a standout of Church’s latest album...” raved Rolling Stone rejoicing it “...makes the case for losing oneself in music to get over a break-up. Specifically, it’s the warmth of vinyl albums…” and Los Angeles Timesdubbing it one of his more “deeply felt heartbreak songs.” Church co-wrote the track, #9 on Mr. Misunderstood, with longtime banjo player and guitarist Jeff Hyde. With poignantly clever lyrics, "Record Year" is Church's ode to a lost-love who instead of finding solace in another's arms finds consolation in a three-foot stack of vinyl albums. Iconic albums and artists are namechecked in the song, including Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key of Life, Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, John Lee Hooker's One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer as well as artists James Brown, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and New Grass Revival, reflecting the diversity of influence on Church and his music.

Throughout the video, Church and his band members are seen marking time by listening to vinyl records on turntables as well as performing. In several key visuals, vinyl records are stacked horizontally to become a 3-D audio waveform reflecting the sonic intensity of the song.

Eric Church and band on set of music video for "Record Year"
Credit: Reid Long  |   CLICK to ENLARGE
Next up Church will be seen performing with his new Gibson Hummingbird Dark acoustic guitar at Stagecoach Festival on April 29 in Indio, California.  He will then perform two shows at The Joint in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on April 30 and May 1, but until then, fans can see the customized acoustic guitar here in the music video for “Record Year.”

Keep up with Eric Church here:
http://ericchurch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ericchurch
https://twitter.com/ericchurch

About Eric Church
The two-time Country Music Association and four-time Academy of Country Music Award winner cemented his reputation as a maverick by releasing his 2015 album Mr. Misunderstood as a surprise, delivering it to fans before announcing its existence and putting it on sale. He is rising up the country charts with “Record Year,” the second single, which Rolling Stone dubbed “the most moving moment” on the widely lauded album.

The North Carolina native’s previous album, The Outsiders debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and Top Country Albums Chart with the highest debut and sales of any release in the format that year, making Church 2014’s top-selling country music artist. The album garnered GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Album of the Year nominations and featured his No. 1 hits “Give Me Back My Hometown” and “Talladega,” as well as multiple nominee “Like A Wrecking Ball.” The Outsiders was the follow-up to Church’s Platinum-certified CHIEF, named the 2012 Album of the Year by both CMA and ACM, and GRAMMY-nominated for Best Country Album. The LP featured five Top 20 singles: “Homeboy” (certified Platinum for sales in excess of 1 million); the Top 10 “Like Jesus Does” and the Top 5 “Creepin’” (both certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000); and two No. 1 hits “Drink in My Hand” (certified Platinum) and “Springsteen” (certified Double Platinum for sales in excess of 2 million singles). Church’s 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me, and his sophomore album, Carolina, (2009) are both RIAA Gold certified.

About Gibson Hummingbird Dark Signature Acoustic Guitar
Hand-crafted in Gibson’s acoustic facility in Bozeman, Montana, Eric Church’s groundbreaking new acoustic guitar, Hummingbird Dark, is a result of Church’s personal artistic vision with its translucent ebony- burst lacquer finish, dark mother of pearl fingerboard inlay, black body binding, and a matching new Hummingbird Dark pickguard. Upgraded performance features include a more slender body depth for a superior tonal balance and an LR Baggs VTC pickup for completely natural acoustic sound reproduction when amplified. Retail information will be available beginning in mid-May on 
Gibson.com as production of the Hummingbird Dark signature guitars is rolled out from Montana.

Andy Cooney new single "Country Music Was Born"

Andy Cooney with Special Guests
Mick Flavin & Johnny Brady

New Single "Country Music Was Born"


Irish-American legend Andy Cooney has recently released his new single 'Country Music Was Born', co-written with international superstar Nathan Carter and legendary Irish-American songwriter Joe McShane.

Available to purchase as a digital-download single on iTunes.































Cooney, who was born to a deep-rooted Irish-American family in Long Island, New York, has been dubbed "Irish America's favourite son" by the New York Times. In a career spanning over twenty years, highlights have included selling out Carnegie Hall on more than one occasion, hosting his own television special on PBS television, and sharing the stage with legends including Crystal GayleLarry Gatlin and Phil Coulter.

While Cooney has been best known for his powerful tenor voice and strong renditions of traditional Irish ballads, this new single 'Country Music Was Born'reflects his passion for Country Music, which will surely appeal to many fans at home in Ireland as well as in Irish America. Andy teamed up with the hugely popular Nathan Carter, as well as Chicago's Joe McShane who has penned hits for Daniel O'Donnell and Margo amongst others, andJohn Alexander who co-wrote Andy's last hit 'On The Eighth Day'.

Give a Listen to the single:


To bring the song to life, Andy enlisted the help of legendary performer Mick Flavin to add his vocals to the track. They were joined by one of Irish Country Music's upcoming talents, Johnny Brady, to create something that is fresh, original and unique.

Andy is currently celebrating the success of his recent venture into chartering his own cruise-ship, 'The Cruise of Irish Stars' which this year featured Mike Denver, Derek Ryan, Ronan Tynan and over 50 Irish Musicians. He plans to repeat the venture in 2017, and also hopes to return on tour to Ireland later this year. He also played to sell out audiences on a hugely successful US tour with Phil Coulter and Geraldine Brannigan in March this year. 

On the Irish Country Music Radio Airplay Chart (Sat Apr 02 to Fri Apr 29 inclusive) the single sits atop of the chart at #1!
Andy shares on Facebook: Hi Friends, Thank you Irish Country Radio for almost 100 spins you give me the last few weeks with my new single with Mick Flavin & Johnny Brady!

Country Music Was Born
Words and music by Andy Cooney, Nathan Carter, Joe McShane and John Alexander
Publishing Bardis Music Co. Ltd. / Memorare Music BMI
Length 3:41 
Release Date: 7 April 2016
Record Label: Sharpe Music, Dungannon, Co Tyrone
Studio: Spout Studio, Granard, Co Longford
Producer: Jonathan Owens

** Available to purchase as a digital-download single on iTunes.

About Andy Cooney:
Andy Cooney, direct from another SOLD OUT appearance at Carnegie Hall, with his outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence has always been a favorite among young and old everywhere. His talent and versatility provide the ability to deliver a song directly to the hearts of his audience.

Andy is surely one of the greatest singing sensations on Irish Music scene today.

Christened “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times, is a title he truly deserves. 
Andy Cooney is also one of “The New York Tenors”. They have been receiving high critical acclaim. 

Andy has recorded 18 albums to date including his latest release, “Bright Brand New Day” with Phil Coulter and his Orchestra. 
Andy Cooney is also known for his Cruise of Irish Stars that annually draws over 1000 Irish and Irish Americans on a Caribbean Cruise enriched with the finest Irish entertainment including the great Ronan Tynan. Read Full Biography
CONNECT with Andy Cooney:
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Nick Riggins releases 2nd Single "Guitars, Girls And Whiskey"

NICK RIGGINS RELEASES 2ND SINGLE
"GUITARS, GIRLS AND WHISKEY"

  
"Guitars, Girls, and Whiskey" is the second single release from Nick Riggins' debut album FARMED AND DANGEROUS
Now, a reality TV celebrity, Nick is a member of the cast of CMT’s new series, “Tobacco Wars.”
In the series, he showcases his skill as a dark fire tobacco farmer, growing and curing tobacco specifically farmed for cigars.
Nick Riggins Album Art Farmed And Dangerous































Nick says about the song: "A wise old man told me once, "money's not everything, and the best things in life are free." I thought about this a lot. If that’s true, just give me guitars, girls and whiskey!”

"Guitars, Girls, and Whiskey" is the second single release from Nick Riggins' debut-Album "Farmed and Dangerous" which was released in 2015.
Nick about the song: "A wise old man told me once, "money's not everything, and the best things in life are free." I thought about this a lot. If that’s true, just give me guitars, girls and whiskey!”
World renowned Johnny Garcia (lead guitarist for Garth Brooks and MD for Trisha Yearwood) produced the song.

You can listen to the song on Soundcloud

Watch “Guitars, Girls, and Whiskey” (Official Music Video) first published on Feb 4, 2016


Nick and his best friend, Scott Gainous, also donate their time and know-how to help the farmers of Sierra Leone, Africa. They have been assisting the locals in rebuilding the agricultural structure of a ravished land, educating them in farming and the business skills to successfully export their crops to Europe.


AGR-TV Records produced a music video for the song along with an Electronic Press Kit (EPK).

Artist: Nick Riggins
Album: Farmed and Dangerous
Record Label: AGR Television Records
Label Code: LC 11831
Digital Release Date: 27 Aug 2015
Audio CD (25 Sept. 2015)
Label: AGR Television Records
10 Tracks Amazon UK | UK iTunes (27 Aug 2016) | Amazon.com
Top Tracks: *** Guitars Girls and Whiskey, ** Back Porch, *** 31W and Yesterday, Tobacco Town
AGR Television Records, proudly to announced the release of FARMED AND DANGEROUS the debut-album of country-rocker Nick Riggins. He co-wrote the 10 songs with Jay Brunswick, Dave Gibson, Greg Crowe, and John Swantner. The album was produced by Johnny Garcia who has been playing guitar with Trisha Yearwood since 1991 and is also her music director. Add Garth Brooks to his resume in 2000 and he's been on some of the biggest stages in Country Music for the last 25 plus years.

The album includes the music of CMT's "Tobacco Wars" series. On the series, Nick Riggins showcases his skill as a dark fire tobacco farmer, growing and curing tobacco specifically farmed for cigars. He also shares a lifetime of shtick with his sidekick Scott Gainous.

The first single and title song is a country rocker. Nick Riggins wanted people to know that in Kentucky "we grow the food on your table and yield a lot of fun and muscle while doin' it. We're not only armed and dangerous, we're “Farmed and Dangerous."
With the album Nick has proven to be a modern day renaissance man, a consummate performer who is unique and one-of-a-kind. His voice is fresh and captivating and his stage performance is nothing less than compelling. He sings the kind of party-hearty country that "drives the industry train." Nick Riggins is the "real deal", a true country talent from the rural south.

About Nick Riggins
He was born in a tenant house on a dirt road near a small town on the Tennessee/Kentucky border--Adairville, Kentucky, population 900. His early years were spent living and working on his grandfather's century old family farm.
His father was a farmer, crop duster, soldier of fortune; his mother a teacher, curator and historian.
Nick Riggins - Lovely ladies at the Hollywood Meets
 Nashville Grammy Party Feb 2015

























  • Nick has traveled far from the dirt road and has lived in Caracas, Rome, New York, San Francisco and Nashville. He has been a painter (artist), a farmer, a gardener, a stage and film actor, a southern rock singer-songwriter, executive producer, sit-com creator, a model, and a martial arts instructor. His skills include lariat, horseback, dance, jump kick fighting, pistol draw and twirl, stick fighting and weaponry.
  • Nick has a wealth of experience as an actor, singer, performer and musician.
  • His experience includes six years as lead singer with the southern rock band, ADONIS, sharing the stage with a variety of performers ranging from Leon Russell to Alcatraz, from the Beach Boys to the Oak Ridge Boys., as well as road company work with New York professional artist production and touring companies including productions of Hair, Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma, Sid Arthur, Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar.
  • Magnolia Pearl "Mammy" Copas King was Nick's great-grandmother. Her brother was the father of country music, the legendary Cowboy Copas.
  • He is a consummate country performer who sounds like no one else. His voice is fresh and captivating; his stage performance compelling. He sings the kind of soulful country that "drives the industry train." He is a good looking, truly country talent from the rural south.
AGR-TV Records - Website
CONNECT with Nick Riggins:
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Thursday 28 April 2016

Honey Ryder's video for “In A Heartbeat” exclusively revealed by The Sun


The Sun premiere Honey Ryder's In A Heartbeat

Taken from third studio album, Born In A Bottle

Honey Ryder (Lindsay O'Mahony, Jason Huxley, Matt Bishop) have had a more than impressive 2016 thus far. Kickstarting the year with “What If We’ve Only Got Tonight”, the lead single from their third album BORN IN A BOTTLE, being playlisted on BBC Radio 2 and A-listed on the Bauer Network. Heightening their enjoyment of the first quarter, Born In A Bottle was rewarded with several five star reviews (Country Music People) and every date they have played this year has seen audiences arrive in their droves, with their show at the Little Rabbit Barn becoming the venue’s fastest ever sold out appearance!
Honey Ryder Press Photo 2015


















The latest success follows on from the success of their sophomore album 'Marley's Chains', which spawned several Radio 2 playlist hits as well as being Album Of The Week across the Smooth Radio Network and Music Week, and TV appearances and performances on BBC Breakfast, ITV's This Morning, and C5 Live with Myleene Klass. Lead track 'Marley's Chains' was synced in the hit ABC series 'Body Of Proof'. Internationally, the album received strong support in Canada, Holland, and most recently Denmark, where the band enjoyed Top 20 airplay.

To celebrate, Honey Ryder are set to release the album’s second single. The uptempo, driving 'In a Heartbeart', was co-written in Nashville with Stephen Dale Jones (John Legend, George Strait, Bonnie Raitt) and recorded at the legendary Ocean Way Studios. The song was written about a well-known celebrity who recently went from riches to rags....the lyrics remind us how quickly your life can change course, that it is impossible to predict your destiny...and it also reflects on how important it is to trust the right people.


Their most recent album BORN IN A BOTTLE was crowd-funded by fans using the Pledge Music platform (211 pledgers reached 122% of the goal). It was officially released on iTunes on Dec 25, 2015 and became available on CD on Amazon UK (Jan 29, 2016).


It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2015 the British Country Music Awards beaten out by The Shires GOLD certified BRAVE. The album garnered a 5 Star reviews from Maverick Magazine and from Chris Smith in the August 2015 issue of Country Music People.
For The Country Record website wrote that it “is a strong album that does well to showcase exactly what this band is made of. There are a few heavily influenced country numbers but it also gets stripped back to basics with tracks such as ‘Years From Now’

Their single "What If We've Only Got Tonight" was added to the BBC Radio 2 "B" Playlist on Dec 26, 2015 and remained on the list until week commencing Jan 23, 2016. The station has a 15.2 million weekly radio audience.
As of Jan 9, 2016 "'What If We've Only Got Tonight" appeared at #51 on UK iTunes Country Songs chart falling to #197 by Jan 11. 
It received its first spin by Alex Lester (Dec 29), further plays included Radio 2 presenters Janice Long (Jan 1st, Jan 7th), Sara Cox (sitting in for Chris Evans), Richard Madeley (sitting in for Sir Terry Wogan; 3rd Jan), Jeremy Vine (5th Jan spin) and Vanessa Feltz (8th Jan 2 spin ).
BBC Radio 2 Playlist
Steve Wright Show

“An upbeat pop record with elements of folk, rock and country, this is a record with emotional depth that will knock your socks off” Honey Ryder shared: 
We’ve made the B-list on Radio 2 kicking off on December 26th and we’re SO SO happy! 
We can’t wait to hear ‘What if We’ve only Got Tonight’ on national radio…..and we want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who’s supported us and believed in us this year – it’s been a good one – but 2016’s gonna be even better methinks….(mehopes!)



Honey Ryder played two dates at C2C Country To Country Festival 2016 at London’s O2 Arena to over 1000 people a day including a headline slot at The Brooklyn Bowl. They can be seen at various festivals throughout the Summer and will be performing the BBC Scotland (previously Edith Bowman) Sessions in Glasgow.  
Honey Ryder play the NY-LON Stage at C2C Festival 2016
Saturday March 12, 2016 - CLICK to ENLARGE 





















C2C 2016 at NY-LON and Brooklyn Bowl stage (Saturday March 12, 2016 | 10:50-11:30 | 13:45-14:30)
Setlists included: What If We've Only Got Tonight , You Can’t Say That, Beautiful Horizon (from Marleys Chains)
Second Set: Mirage, Marleys Chains, Damn it I’m in Love Again
C2C 2016 Town Square Stage (Sunday March 13, 2016 | 15:45-16:30)
Setlist: You Can’t Say (from That Marleys Chains), In A Heartbeat, Drink With Me, Marleys Chains, Damn it I’m in Love Again, What If We've Only Got Tonight, A Beautiful Horizon (from Marleys Chains)
Honey Ryder: Jason Huxley & Lindsay O'Mahony
Country 2 Country Festival Day 2
Brooklyn Bowl (Credit Burak Cingi) 12 March 2016























Honey Ryder Live Dates:
Wed June 15, 2016 - 9:00 PM -The Horn of Plenty (Victoria Street, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3TE) Honey Ryder perform with a support act (TBA) Tickets £5
Fri June 24, 2016 - The Buckle and Boots Festival (George Street, Stockport) Full Band set (£20 Day Ticket) Website - Facebook
Friday 22nd (from 6pm) to Sat 23rd July 2016 - Beer And Bluegrass Festival 2016 (St Aldhelm's Hall, 401 Pool Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset, BH12 1AD) Event Detail

CONNECT with Honey Ryder:
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Shining the Spotlight on Honey Ryder:

About Honey Ryder:
Style of music varies from Rock, Folk, Pop, Indie and Country.
Formed in 2006, they took their name from Ursula Andress' character (See Bond Bombshell Image | Image) in the Bond film 'Dr No'. Both Bond fans, they liked the name and the Britishness of it.

RISING UP Era: 
Originally a duo, London based Lindsay O'Mahony and co-founder Martyn Shone came together through a mutual friend at MTV.


























They then spent several years honing their sound with various bands on the London circuit before striking out on to the commercial scene in 2008. O'Mahony was working alongside the likes of Chris Evans, Edith Bowman, Russell Brand and Alex Zane at MTV, whilst Shone was working as a banker in the city and jobbing as a musician. The band’s unique model caught the eye of former EMI CEO Eric Nicoli who took the role of personal mentor for the duo, whose growing fanbase included the likes of Annie Lennox. 
For their business plan they had a EIS status (Enterprise Investment Scheme) which gave tax advantages to anyone who invested in its. It was something the government set up to help small business.
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire based Lindsay O'Mahony (now aged 36), worked at MTV as a production assistant in the studios (whilst living in London and paying the expensive rent). She ended up going all over the world like U2 at Slane Castle, MTV Music awards, and projects for the BBC whilst doing her own thing writing and forming a band and recording. She then left the daytime job and went full time with the band and hasn't looked back. She cites Dolly Parton, Carole King, KD Lang, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette as influences and band sounds from the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac to Oasis and U2.

Honey Ryder scored two UK top 40 hits in the late 2000s "Numb" (#32; released July 28, 2008) and "Fly Away" (#31, released Feb 16, 2009) from the album RISING UP (Tagged Rock; released July 2009 | iTunes).


A 2008 single version of “Fly Away” (see Artwork) included remixes from Ortega Gold, Manhattan Clique, Papercuts, Fat Buddha & Howling Wolf along with a 12” mix.
** FREE DOWNLOAD “Fly Away” 12” Mix (128kbps MP3) for an email share at Reverbnation.com


Their debut singleNumb” was one of the darker tracks on debut album engaging the listener through an anthemic rock sound that underlined the band's ear for melody. The album was produced by Goldust (Bryan Adams, Natasha Bedingfield) and mixed by Brad Gilderman, (Madonna, Outkast) and Bob Kraushaar (Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams).
A rock record with folk influences, Rising Up received widespread critical acclaim and led to the band supporting Will Young on a 19 date theatre tour and Michael Bolton in UK arenas (including The Royal Albert Hall). The band flew to Austin, Texas and the south of France for performances at South By South West and Midem, respectively.

MARLEY'S CHAINS Era:















































After the first album, Shone decided to leave the group (personal reasons). They had been working with musician Jason Huxley, who then joined the band officially. Recruiting a third member, they teamed up with guitarist Matt Bishop while working on the second album. At Midem, playing a Brits showcase alongside Paolo Nutini and Jamie Cullum, Honey Ryder found a fan in ex Sony executive Chris Craker, who invited them to be the first act to record at his newly-built, state of the-art, residential recording complex south of Bangkok.  They spent a month writing songs in Phuket.
We left with lots of hooks, riffs and lyrics, and as soon as we arrived, our surroundings inspired us,” explained Lindsay. Having the sun beating down on the balcony, being opposite a beach, in a completely different culture, gave our songs a sunnier, more upbeat feel.  We were watching elephants and swimming in the afternoons.  It couldn’t have been more different to working in London.
Lady In Red
Honey Ryder: Lindsay O'Mahony performs
at Liverpools free concert Pier Head
21 July 2012
“Jason joining changed the band sound naturally as he was into the finger-picking style of Glenn Campbell and Mark Knopfler and a huge Simon & Garfunkel fan, which pushed them in a Folk-Pop direction - This album was never going to sound like our first because we weren’t the same band.”

Writing in Thailand, they stuck with the same stripped down, acoustic structure that forced their melodies to the fore.  

After a month of recording in spectacular surroundings, for the first time as a live band rather than relying on overdubs, the trio came home assuming their second album was almost complete.
After tinkering with the dozen tracks in their West London studio, however, Honey Ryder had an idea
They have had couple of trips to Nashville, recorded and written in Nashville with some fantastic musicians. They sent a track Marley's Chains to Paul Worley (The Dixie Chicks & Lady Antebellum's producer) and he hooked them up with songwriter Tom Douglas. Recorded MARLEY'S CHAINS out there at Ocean Way studios. “Marley’s Chains” (Apr 26, 2012), the first single from the album, was written by Lindsay with Emerson Hart, the frontman of multi-platinum selling, post-grunge group Tonic. At the time it was their “most Nashville song”, a very positive and uplifting number about regrets but learning how to live and deal with them.
Months ahead of its release, Marley’s Chains was snapped up for the soundtrack US TV series Body Of Proof. Marley’s Chains, released Aug 5, 2012, was described as a “POP album with its feet in folk and country that sounds both classic and contemporary and fits to the current trend for a return to real music”. Three further singles were released "You Can't Say That" (Aug 5, 2012), "World's Away" (Oct 25, 2012) and a cover of John Denver's "Annie's Song" (Oct 4, 2012) none of which charted in the UK but several made it onto the BBC Radio 2 playlist.
Honey Ryder with the late Sir Terry Wogan















On 16 October 2012 they joined the late Sir Terry Wogan in the studio for a chat and >> performed "World's Away" and "You Can't Say That"


BORN IN A BOTTLE Era
Their 3rd studio album BORN IN A BOTTLE was born (5 December 2014). On August 29, 2014 they launched a Pledge Music crowd-funded project to help raise the money (211 pledgers; reached 122% of the goal) to make it happen.
Sonnet Music welcomed Honey Ryder to their artist roster fold. Their single 'Drink With Me' was scheduled for release on July 10th 2015. "We wanted to write a summery feel good song about hanging out with friends and partying, inspired by the bright lights of Downtown Nashville ", explained lead singer Lindsay. "We had just come back to our hotel after a fantastic night at a bar called Pucketts, where we feasted on deep fried green beans and drank beer out of jam jars, and felt inspired to write, so we started jamming and within a few hours the song was pretty much finished. We then recorded it a few days later over at Ocean Way".














On Thursday July 16, 2015 Honey Ryder joined Bob Harris (OBE) as session guests on BBC Radio 2s Bob Harris Harris Country (BBC Page) . They played “Damn it I'm in Love Again” and “Marleys Chains" live and their promo single “What If We've only Got Tonight” (OCEANIC) was played.
Quote: “C2C what an amazing experience it was this year, how exciting was that, the pop Up stages are like a fertile breeding ground of new acts from the UK giving them space and the chance to get their music across to people…We've now got a phenomenal and very healthy country scene here in the UK and Honey Ryder are subscribing to that” "They are really great aren't they, thanks again to them for a really terrific session" - Bob Harris OBE (July 16, 2015)
Before it’s general and official worldwide Digital iTunes release (Dec 25, 2015) Born In A Bottle was nominated for Album of the Year at the British Country Music Awards which took place on Sunday October 25th 2015 held at the Concorde Suite, Heathrow, London. They were also nominated for Song of the Year (“Born in a Bottle”) and Group of the Year. 

With the release of “Bottle” they were cited as “having firmly established themselves within the inner circle of Nashville’s elite” and the UK band were said to have made a “return to spearhead the British country crossover invasion”. For the week commencing December 26, 2015 Honey Ryder’s single "What If We've Only Got Tonight" was added to the BBC Radio 2 "B" Playlist, removed week commencing 23rd January 2016. Lindsay penned the track with Blair Daly in Nashville which depicts a couple’s troubled relationship which has suffered due to continual petty arguments. They question how they would behave if told that they had a single night left together on planet earth and sparks a realization they’ve lost their appreciation of one another and instead decide to resolve their differences. Album track 4 “Little Feet” is dedicated to Lindsay’s two sons (youngest Max). Over the weekend March 12 & 13, 2016 they showcased their music once again performing on 3 stages within London's O2 Arena complex at the C2C Country To Country Festival 2016.